Mechanical handle equipped with timer to enable dual volume flush functionality when installed in a toilet tank

ABSTRACT

Dual flush toilets save water by allowing the user flushing to evacuate liquid wastes to use a smaller volume of water from the toilet tank than is necessary for solid waste evacuation. The Invention described in this Patent Application restricts the dual flush functionality to a retrofittable handle. This handle produces a full flush by means of a timer activated by rotation of the handle to the large volume position. In rotating the handle to the large flush position a mechanical timer is wound and causes a retractable latch to project and hold the flush arm in its upward position for the period dictated by the timer. Upon release of the arm the flapper returns to seal the tank allowing for recharge with a fresh supply of water. If the small volume position is selected with the flush handle then the smaller volume of flush water as limited by the flush chain float position will be released.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no cross references to other applications in this Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No federally sponsored research and development funds nor involvement has led to this Patent Application.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

No reference is made to a sequence listing in this Patent Application.

BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION

A dual flush apparatus selects between two flush options. One option is for a larger volume of water in the toilet tank to be drained to the bowl to evacuate solid wastes therein to the sanitary drain. The other option is for the dual flush apparatus to flush a smaller volume of water drained from the tank to the bowl to evacuate liquid wastes to the sanitary sewer. Flush water is drained to the bowl most commonly by an arm rotated upward by the flush handle pulling on a chain to open a flapper plugging the bottom of the tank. The flapper is returned to perform its function as a tank plug when the handle is released. After the flush is completed water is once more supplied to the tank by means of a water supply inlet. The final water volume in the tank is limited by a float or other mechanism. Conventional toilets in contrast use a single volume of water to flush away both solid and liquid wastes.

Dual flush functionality can and has been effected by a number of inventions. These can be classified into devices that use multiple outlet ports set at two or more elevations in the tank for different flush volumes, devices that control the amount of water used in the flush through electric or electronic control mechanisms, devices that rely on buoyancy to select for flush volume, or devices that use mechanical means of selecting for flush volume.

One category of dual flush devices uses multiple outlet ports set at two or more elevations in the tank. These ports can be selectively opened for the desired flush such as described in (Kowalski U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,056 Mar. 23, 1976).

Another category of dual flush devices use electronic control to meter out selected volume of water such as described in (Wilson U.S. application Ser. No. 20080078014).

Yet other devices rely on buoyancy to switch between low flush and high flush volumes of water as exemplified by (Li U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,534 B2 Nov. 30, 2004) and (Sullivan U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,774 Mar. 27, 1979).

Of more direct interest to this application are those devices that use mechanical means for selecting flush volume as exemplified by (Kurtz U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,018 Nov. 25, 1986). Kurtz's patent is similar to this Application in that the dual flush functionality involves the flush handle. Nonetheless Kurtz's engineering of the device involves other mechanisms distinct from the handle and the existing flush apparatus. Kurtz also uses a non-timed mechanical interference handle that is different from the handle in the Device described in this Patent Application.

This Patent Application incorporates flush selection functionality completely into the handle by means of a mechanical timer that operates a latch pin that prevents the flush arm from descending until a preset time has passed. This timer is set by rotation of the flush handle to the greater of two potential rotational positions. Accordingly the small flush not involving the timer can be initiated by a normal rotation of the flush handle and a full flush by a greater than normal rotation of the flush handle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Device described in this Patent Application converts the single action six liter flush toilet that is so popular worldwide into a dual flush toilet that will dispense upon choice either a small or full flush in a manner that is distinct from other Patents granted and pending. The Device described in this Patent Application is incorporated into a retrofittable flush handle.

This handle is rotated as before installation to actuate a smaller volume flush. The volume of this small flush can be adjusted by positioning of the float attached to the chain joining the flush arm rotated by the handle to the tank flapper. This adjustment float is prevalent in toilets and also can be retrofitted. This commonly available adjustment float in its various forms does not form part of the Claims in this Patent Application.

Depending on the manufacture and design of the toilet, a time of five to fifteen seconds is sufficient to empty the 6 liter tank necessary for dependable evacuation of solids in the toilet bowl. After installation of the Device the timer in the new handle can be activated by a greater than usual rotation of the handle. This activation has several effects. The first effect is to allow the user flushing to select for the greater volume of flush. The second effect is to raise the flush arm as in any standard flush toilet. The third effect is to wind the timer to enable the fourth effect. The fourth effect is to activate the projection of a retractable latch which prevents the flush arm from descending when the float on the flush chain would physically dictate. This latch will retract when the timer runs out. These last two effects are the main body of this Application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Invention in this Application consists of a flush handle with a difference. The flush handle contains a timer that acts to prevent the toilet tank flapper from closing by arresting the descent of the flush arm once the flush handle is released by the user. Note that this Application does not limit the application of this Invention to any specific toilet tank. The entire Invention is in the handle. Toilet tanks are equipped with a variety of often adjustable devices such as floats that limit the flush volume even though there is a greater volume of water in the tank. These devices act to force the flush arm to return before the entire volume of the flush tank is emptied. This Invention instead has the reverse effect of frustrating such flush shut-off mechanisms by forcing the toilet flush arm to stay in a raised position until the time set in the timer has elapsed.

The time elapsed can be varied by timer design and setting. The objective is to empty the entire toilet tank to carry away solid wastes that might not be evacuated by the low volume flush controlled by floats and other flush limiting mechanisms.

The detailed description of the Invention is shown in two Figures, FIG. 1 displaying the engaged position where the toilet flush arm is arrested in the up position by the Invention, and FIG. 2 wherein the flush arm has been released.

In FIG. 1, a timer mechanism (1) is enclosed in a flush handle (4). This handle is attached to a central bolt in turn attached to a flush arm (6). This central bolt fits through the square handle hole standard in toilet tanks. The bolt is secured to the toilet tank wall (7) by a holding nut (3) and a limiting nut (8) on the inside and outside of the tank respectively. When the handle is rotated through a normal arc the flush arm is lifted activating the flush. When the handle rotated through a greater arc the timer (1) is wound and a timer pin (5) projects into a recess (8) in the limiting nut (2) that interferes with a tab (9). This prevents the handle from returning to rest position until the timer has run its course and the pin has again retracted into the timer. This has the effect of keeping the flush arm up. When the flush arm is up water in the tank continues to evacuate leading to a larger volume flush.

In FIG. 2 the rest position of the flush handle (4) is illustrated. The timer mechanism (1) inside the handle is not activated since the pin (5) is retracted into the timer body and no longer interlocks with the tab (9) within the recess (8) within the limiting nut (2). This allows the flush arm (6) to descend, allowing the tank flapper to close and stopping the flush flow. This apparatus is secured to the toilet tank (7) by a holding nut (3). 

1) In this Invention a toilet tank handle is equipped with a timer that controls a latch that in turn mechanically holds up the arm connected to the flush flapper allowing for a flush that lasts as long as the timer dictates. 2) When activated by full rotation of the flush handle this Invention overrides toilet tank technology designed to deliver a smaller flush by default. 3) This Invention uses a mechanical timer that is wound when the handle is rotated through the greater arc than the arc turned to actuate the standard low volume flush designed by default to be delivered by the toilet tank. 